Hello reviewers!!! I would like to thank the usuals: Elaine Dawkins and Broken Amethyst, the busiest, but nonetheless encouraging: Protego Totalum, and the newbie: Sir-Not-Appearing-In-This-Show for their WONDERFUL REVIEWS!!! (That is Master Bates laughing at the seemingly comical thought of me having "fans") Okay, so not exactly "fans", but "people who realize I exist". ANYWAY! Here is chapter ten – that's a two-digit number!!! Hurray!

Chapter 10: Happy Sixth!

It was October 24th. Tomorrow is the big day! she thought. She would be turning six years old tomorrow. Guinevere couldn't help but imagine how it would be. Images flashed through her mind; there would be a banner pinned up on the wall bearing the words "Happy Birthday, Guinny!" (Guinevere was too long a name to write on a banner), the smell of a pie baking in the oven wafting through the apartment, AND the best part – she would be taken out for her first outdoor lesson in pick pocketing. Guinevere smiled.

"Guinevere, honey, you need to go to sleep," her mother chided. Nancy was standing in the doorway. This was the third time that week that she had found Guinevere still awake when she should be sleeping.

"I am too excited to sleep! And 'sides, why can't I stay up late on the eve of my b'rthday?"

Nancy smiled grimly. They had been over this and over this. "Because little girls like you need sleep so they can grow up to be big girls. Now, the sooner you fall asleep, the sooner it will be your birthday."

"Why? Does the clock go faster when I sleep? Do the moon and the sun make their rounds faster then, too? Does the clock tell the sun and moon how fast to go, or do the sun and moon tell the clock how fast to go?"

Nancy sighed. How is it that a girl of her age thinks up such questions? "Hon', the clock doesn't go any faster when you sleep, it'll just seem that way. And the sun and the moon tell the clock how fast it should go." Nancy smiled. "Now, it is time for you to close your eyes and go to sleep!"

"Can you sing me the song, mommy?" Guinevere pleaded.

"Only if you promise to close your eyes and do your best to go to sleep!" she laughed.

Guinevere nodded and closed her eyes, so Nancy began to sing the song she had 'written' shortly after Guinevere was born.

And so Bill found them fifteen minutes later, Nancy singing and Guinevere with her eyes closed, breathing rhythmically.

Bill walked quietly in – he had perfected being quiet years ago, and now knew how to come and go through rooms without disturbing anyone sleeping.

"Nance," he whispered, "she's asleep yer know."

Nancy nodded. She stood up and walked out the door, closely followed by Bill.

"I been whatchin' yer. She's been asleep for over ten minutes."

"I know. It's just I was thinking, Bill," she paused. Bill nodded encouragingly, and she continued. "She'll be six tomorrow. I just can't get over it – and I am not sure I want to," she added the last part softly.

"Yer shouldn't think on such things. Yer cant' stop a youngun's growth – don't think I 'aven't tried – thinkin' 'bout such thing's 'll drive yer crazy!"

"I know, Bill. I just can't help it."

Bill nodded.

----

The next day found them all sooner than they expected. Nancy got up early, to begin on the special breakfast she had planned. Bill, realizing how soon the birthday girl would be awake, waited patiently for her to jump on the bed and yell "Good mornin', Daddy!" - this was their ritual ever since she turned three.

As expected, about two minutes later Guinevere came charging in, jumped on the 'sleeping' Bill, and shouted, "Good mornin', Daddy!"

Bill feigned impartiality, and rolled over pretending to go back to sleep. Just as Guinevere was about to poke him – to see if he was still alive, Bill rolled back over and suddenly began tickling her.

----

Nancy was just flipping the flapjacks when she heard the enormous amount of giggles erupting from the bedroom.

She wandered to the bedroom doorway and peeked in. Catching Bill's eye, she crept up behind Guinevere, and assisted Bill in 'the attack'.

After half a minute, Nancy spoke up, "All right, I think we best stop, Bill! If I am right – and I know I am – this little girl has not taken care of a VERY important mornin' necessity that is NOT to be overlooked when it comes to ticklin'!" With that she shooed Guinevere into the bathroom, and went back to her flapjacks.

Soon, Nancy had everything set on the table; plates, silverware, glasses, ham, flapjacks, butter, and syrup – a special treat.

"Breakfast is ready!" she announced. Two shapes emerged, one from the bedroom and the other from the privy. They all sat down, and noisily began to scarf down the 'special meal'.

----

Guinevere impatiently watched the clock. It was still a whole half-hour until she was to be taken out to learn pick pocketing. She had practiced it around the house and she was very good at it. Even Fagin had to admit to this after one time when Guinevere had succeeded in stealing a number of valuables from him during a five-minute visit.

There were now twenty-eight minutes left. When would she finally get to begin?

Well, there it is! Oh, and by the way, Bill is the same old "Bill" for everyone else. Most people will agree that – at least on birthdays – family life is different from work life. REVIEW PLEASE!!!